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Jalen Williams · For much of the last two seasons, Jalen Williams’ game-to-game box scores told stories of a blossoming talent who — akin to his Most Valuable Player-caliber teammate — could argue that consistency was his calling card. As if temporarily unsatisfied by 20-point outings, Williams decided that on March 2, 2025, it was time to step into a stratosphere higher. Unguardable from everywhere during a nationally-broadcast battle against the plucky San Antonio Spurs, Williams attacks the game’s home stretch with two-way emphasis, first by telegraphing Stephon Castle’s cross-court pass attempt before scoping the transition scene. Too swift in his movements for two initial Spurs defenders to handle, Williams keeps the accelerator mashed, eventually barreling his way into an acrobatic and-one banker, hushing the road crowd. Keying the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 146-point downpour, Williams tapped into something beyond All-Star potential, recording 41 points, six rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block on supreme efficiency overall (15-of-24), from deep (four-of-eight), and on foul shots (seven-of-seven). Side-by-side in brilliance with his aforementioned All-Star, Williams also served as one-half of 2024-25’s first duo to each record 30+ points and zero turnovers. · State of Mint